Littlehampton, SA could not have been less like its namesake, as Littlehampton (UK) in Sussex is a sizeable town built on the waterfront on the mouth of the River Arun with a shipbuilding and fishing heritage. Until the 1930s it was owned by the Duke of Norfolk. It was once called Hampton and it seems “Little” was added to distinguish it from its larger neighbour, Southhampton, then also called Hampton.
Littlehampton, South Australia enjoyed prosperity in its early days, partly because of being on the main route between Adelaide and Melbourne. By the time the railway arrived in the late 1800’s, the town was a hive of activity with a brewery, brick manufacturing, butter and cheese factory, bacon, jam and other manufacturing.
During the 1850s there was quite a silk industry with silkworms. “Mrs Fleet, of Littlehampton, has for many years perseveringly laboured in this industry. At the last three February shows... her silk - tastefully skeined and got up in ornamental cases - has obtained prizes...”. Several neighbours who have mulberry trees (silkworms eat mulberry leaves) have placed their leaves at her disposal... At present Mrs Fleet has between ten an twenty thousand worms in the boxes...”
The surrounding countryside is fertile and slightly undulating, A number of productive farms surrounded Littlehampton with dairying, grain and mixed farming agriculture.